Surgical thread dispenser



y 1962 K. KAMMER 3,045,866

SURGICAL THREAD DISPENSER Filed Oct. 30, '1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig, 1

July 24, 1962 K. KAMMER SURGICAL THREAD DISPENSER Filed Oct. 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 20 @EHH 1 19 22 5a 2a 52] 25 WS.WW-

July 24, 1962 K. KAMMER 3,045,866

SURGICAL THREAD DISPENSER Filed Oct. 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mxsrw/z/h Q/dfw-W July 24, 1962 K. KAMMER 3,045,366

SURGICAL THREAD DISPENSER Filed on. so, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 6 HQ. 7

WSS GMEE K. KAMMER 3,045,866

July 24, 1962 SURGICAL THREAD DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 50, 1956 f5 2 17 l V QMMAQ Wsm $345,855 Patented July 24-, 1962 fire 3,045,866 SURGICAL THREAD DISPENSER Karl Kammer, Moltkestrasse 23, Lahr, Germany Filed Oct. 30, 1956, Ser. No. 619,282 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 3, 1955 9 Claims. (Cl. 22169) The present invention relates to an accessory for improving the operation of a surgical instrument for gripping and tying oif the open ends of blood vessels and the like as disclosed in my copending patent application Serial Number 577,339, filed on April 10, 1956, and now Patent No. 2,898,915. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispenser for storing surgical thread, dispensing the same to such surgical instrument, and applying the thread thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for applying pieces of surgical thread of the proper length very quickly and successively to the surgical instrument and in a manner so as to permit the instrument to be used immediately without any additional manipulation or adjustment thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which permits the mentioned surgical instrument to be loaded automatically with a piece of surgical thread in the same operation and at the same time in which the instrument is tensioned or cocked so as to be ready for the tying operation.

A further object of the present invention thus also consists in the provision of an apparatus, the operation of which for the purpose of loading the surgical instrument with precut pieces of surgical thread also auto matically tensions or cocks the instrument, or vice versa.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a magazine for storing a larger number of pieces of surgical thread of the proper length and in a prelooped position, and in a manner so as to be dispensed from such magazine and fed to the surgical instrument individually and in quick succession.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which permits the last mentioned operation to be carried out automatically and during the same operation in which the preceding piece of surgical thread is picked up by the surgical instrument.

A feature of the invention for carrying out the above mentioned objects consists in the provision of a dispensing apparatus which is adapted to contain a supply of thread supporting or applicator plates, each with a precut piece of surgical thread of the proper length held thereon in a prelooped position, and provided with a bed for receiving one of such plates with the surgical thread thereon from the dispenser and holding the same therein in a position to be automatically picked up by the surgical instrument, and with means for automatically feeding the next thread supporting plate to such bed when the previous plate has been picked up therefrom by the surgical instrument.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description thereof, particularly when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 shows a side view of the thread-dispensing apparatus according to the present invention together with the surgical instrument for gripping and tying off the open ends of blood vessels and the like in the position ready for picking up a piece of surgical thread from the new apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows the thread-dispensing apparatus as such in its normal or inoperative position in a vertical cross section taken along line II-II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the new apparatus likewise in the inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but shows the new apparatus in the operative position in a cross section taken along line IVIV of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 shows a horizontal cross section taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 shows a front view thereof;

FIG. 8 shows a bottom view thereof;

FIG. 9 shows a slightly enlarged side view of one set of thread-supporting and applicator plates with a piece of surgical thread applied thereon in a prelooped position;

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a set of thread-supporting and applicator plates;

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a modification of one element of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 8; while FIG. 12 shows a cross section taken along line XII- XII of FIG. 11 and illustrates the modified element as applied in the new apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8.

Referring to the drawings, the surgical thread dispenser according to the invention consists of a hollow base 1 made, for example, of sheet metal which may be tapering outwardly to enlarge its supporting surface and thus increase its stability. The horizontal upper wall 2 of base 1 supports a vertical hollow chute 3 which may, for example, likewise be made of sheet metal and of a shape so as to receive and accommodate a plurality of threadsupporting plates 37 superimposed upon each other and with a piece of surgical thread 36 applied thereon ready for use, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 and as described in detail in my copending application previously referred to. For securing chute 3 to the upper wall 2 of base 1, the lower ends of the opposite side walls thereof are preferably provided with a pair of projecting tabs (not shown) which are inserted through corresponding slots in wall 2 and are then bent over at an angle. At its lower end, chute 3 extends forwardly into a pair of opposite arms 4 which are connected at their outer ends by an end wall 5 and together form a frame 6 for receiving the threadsupporting plates 37 successively from chute 3 to be picked up by the tying instrument 7, the head of which is for this purpose adapted to enter into frame 6, as shown in FIG. 1, and provided with pickup members for gripping the thread. The front side of chute 3 is also provided with a guideway 8 for supporting the tying instrument 7 laterally and for guiding its rear part 10 in its movement relative to the front part 9 when such rear part is pressed downwardly to tension the instrument and also to operate the thread dispenser as subsequently described.

Guideway 8 is formed by two parallel extensions 11 and 12 of the side walls of chute 3 projecting forwardly from the front wall thereof which is formed by an insert 13 of V-shaped cross section, the lateral arms of which abut against the inner surface of extensions 11 and 12 and thus reinforce the same. The lower end of insert 13 is bent forwardly at substantially a right angle so as to form an arm 14, the front end of which is beaded over. Arm 14 is spaced from the upper wall 2 of base 1 by a gap through which a slide 15 may be advanced and retracted along wall 2 in order to feed the lowermost thread-supporting plate 37 from chute 3 toward the supporting frame 6.

As shown particularly in FIG. 6, slide 15 has for this purpose a pair of rails 16 which rest upon the upper surface of wall 2 of base 1 at both sides of a longitudinal slot 17 in said wall while a pair of screws 18 and 19 are both passed from below through a washer plate 20, as shown in FIG. 8, and then through 17 to be screwed into slide and to be slideable along slot 17. Underneath slide 15 and intermediate rails 16 a further slide member 21 is provided on the upper surface of wall 2 and of a width so as to bridge slot 17. A coil spring 22 is secured at one end to washer plate and at the other end to a hook 23 on slide member 21 so as to connect the latter resiliently with slide 15 to permit these two slide members to shift relative to each other.

For retaining slide 15 in its normal or inoperative position or to retract it automatically to such position, a retracting spring 24 is provided which is passed around the shaft of screw 18 and the two ends of which are hooked into two arms 25 and 26 projecting downwardly at the front end of base 1. Thus, slide 15, as well as slide member 21, are normally in their most forward position so that the front ends of both members 15 and 21 extend into frame 6.

Slide 15 may be retracted against the force of spring 24 by means of two levers 27 and 28 which are pivotably mounted at one end by screws 29 and 30 on slide 15 behind chute 3 and at the other end by screws 31 and 32 on a cross-bar 33 which is inserted in a pair of vertical slots 34 in the forwardly projecting portions 11 and 12 of the side walls of chute 3 forming guideway 8. If crossbar 33 is pressed downwardly within slots 34, levers 27 and 28 force slide 15 rearwardly and into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Such downward sliding movement of crossbar 33 is produced by means of the tying instrument 7 when the same is attached to the dispenser in the manner as shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose, the upper part 10 of instrument 7 which is to be moved downwardly in order to tension the same relative to the head 4 thereof is provided with a projecting nose 35 which engages behind crossbar 33 so as to take along the latter in such downward movement, as illustrated in FIG. 4 in which the position of instrument 7 is indicated in dotted lines. "In this position, in which instrument 7 is tensioned or cocked so as to be ready for operation, and in which head 4 thereof has automatically picked up the thread-supporting plate 37 with the thread readily applied thereon from supporting frome 6 which has previously been fed thereto from chute 3, slide 15 and its auxiliary slide member 21 will then be in a position in which the hooked front ends thereof will be properly disposed underneath chute 3. The lowest thread-supporting plate 37 in chute 3 will then engage with these hooks and be gripped thereby and thus automatically removed from the dispenser, so that the latter will be ready for the next pickup operation in the position as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 and described in detail in my copending application previously referred to, the surgical thread 36 required for tying a blood vessel or the like by means of instrument 7 is mounted in the proper length and pretied on each of the supporting plates 37 held within chute 3. The two end portions 38 and 39 of the thread are firmly secured to plate 37 by being wrapped around a pair of lugs 40 and 41 at one end thereof which are thereafter bent over and pressed together. Thus, when during a surgical operation these thread ends 38 and 39 are cut off the thread 36, they will remain firmly attached to lugs 40 and 41 on plate 37 and cannot drop off and, for example, into an incision, but will be removed together with plate 37 Adjacent to lugs 40 and 41, plate 37 is notched out at 36 so that, as seen in a vertical projection, thread 36 will extend freely outside of plate 37 and the tying hooks of instrument 7 can pass inwardly of the two free thread portions through notches 36' so as then to engage with these portions.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, thread-supporting plate 37 also has a pair of apertures and is removably combined with a separate applicator plate 42 by means of a pair of short pins 45 on plate 37 which pass slideably through the mentioned apertures. These pins 45 also serve to hold the pro-tied loops 43 and 44 of an open knot until they are picked up by the respective hooks on the head of instrument 7, as subsequently described. For this purpose, the front edge 46 of slide 15 is rounded and curved inwardly, as shown particularly in FIG. 3; and when slide 15 is in the position shown in FIG. 4, this curved edge 46 engages with the lowest thread-supporting plate 37 dispensed from chute 3. The auxiliary slide member 21 carries a hooklike projection 48 which engages with the rounded projection 49 of applicator plate 42 within the central aperture thereof.

For receiving and gripping the thread-supporting plate 37 together with applicator plate 4-2, the two gripping members 46 and 48 will be moved apart due to the fact that auxiliary slide 21 has at its rear end a small downwardly projecting pin 50 which engages against the rear end of slot 17 in base plate 2 and thereby retains auxiliary slide 21 with hook 48 in a fixed position, while the main slide 15 is able to move slightly further backwardly, that is, toward the left in FIGS. 4 and 5, until it assumes the position shown in these drawings. Such movement of slides '15 and 21 relative to each other tensions spring 22 which connects these two parts through washer plate 20. When slide 15 is retracted by spring 24, gripping members 46 and 48 again move toward each other under the action of spring 22, and then firmly grip the supporting plate 37, 42 and automatically feed the same into frame 6. In order to permit such movement of auxiliary slide 21 relative to main slide 15, slide 21 is likewise provided with longitudinal slot 51 of the proper length through which screws 18 and 19 pass as guiding means for slide 15.

In order to enable instrument 7 to pick up the threadsupporting plate 37 from supporting frame 6, it is first necessary to disengage hook 48 on auxiliary slide 21 from its gripping engagement with the inner surface of the rounded portion 49 of plate 37 so as to permit such slide to move backwardly when the head of instrument 7 is inserted into frame 6. For this purpose, auxiliary slide 21 is made in the form of a leaf spring, the free end of which extends into frame 6 and may be resiliently depressed by a portion of the head of instrument 7 so that hook 48 will be disengaged from thread-supporting plate 37, then permitting slide 15 to move toward the left as shown in the drawings. In place of making the auxiliary slide 21 in the form of a leaf spring, the front portion thereof may also be pivotally mounted on its rear portion, as subsequently described and shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

When the head of instrument 7 depresses such resilient auxiliary slide 21, it also jects the applicator plate 42 downwardly from the thread-supporting plate 37 by means of the thread-engaging hooks of the instrument which at the same time pick up the pretied thread loops from plate 37. When applicator plate 42 is thus pushed downwardly, it will be taken up and gripped between a pair of jaws 52 and 53, as shown particularly in FIG. 7, which are urged toward each other by a spring. Thus, applicator plate 42 is then separated from the main plate 37 and not picked up and taken along by instrument 7. If the next thread 36 is then picked up in the same manner as above described, the following applicator plate 42 will press the previous plate 42 which had been held between the resilient jaws 52 and 53 downwardly and eject such plate from the jaws. This process will be repeated whenever a new thread will be picked up by instrument 7. laws 52 and 53 are mounted on a pair of levers 56 and 57 which are pivotable about screws 54 and 55 and are drawn toward each other by a coil spring 58. The required opening between jaws 52 and 53 to permit the latter to receive and grip the applicator plate 42 is determined by a pair of stop members which are formed by bent-over projections 59 on a further plate 60 against which the jaws 52 and 53 abut under the action of spring 58. This plate 60 is also secured to base plate 2 underneath levers 56 and 57 by screws 54 and 55, and it thus also serves as a support for these levers.

Slide may also be operated manually by a handle 61 near the rear end thereof. FIG. 2 further shows the thread-supporting plates 37, 42, in their superimposed position within chute 3. A weight 62 is preferably placed in chute 3 on the uppermost thread-supporting plate so as to insure their proper gravity feed out of chute 3 and into line with slide 15.

The upper part of guideway 8 is further provided with a crossbar 63 for properly inserting instrument 7 into the dispenser for loading the same with a piece of surgical thread as previously described. This crossbar 63 also serves for securing the individual parts of chute 3 to each other and for reinforcing the structure.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a modification of the invention which merely consists in the use of a hinged tongue 21a in place of the auxiliary slide 21 in the form of a leaf spring as previously described, all other parts of the apparatus being identified by the same numerals as applied in FIGS. 1 to 10. This modification results in a still smoother and more reliable operation of the apparatus, as well as in a more simplified construction thereof. Plate a then serves as a slide member, as well as a washer plate so that a separate washer plate 20' as previously described may be omitted.

Tongue 21a is pivotally mounted at its rear end on a hinge pin 65 secured to plate 20a, while a coil spring 66 on pin 65 between the two arms of tongue 21m urges the latter toward its normal horizontal position and holds tongue 21a in such position, but permits the tongue to be pivoted downwardly against such spring action, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 12, in the same manner and for the same purpose as previously described with respect to leaf spring 21. Tongue 21a also carries a projection 48a over which the thread-supporting plate 37 is placed, and which acts as a hook or jaw in cooperation with the rounded and curved front edge of slide 15 to grip plate 37. Plate 20a is also provided with a downwardly bent hook 23a for securing one end of coil spring 22. i

The upwardly bent front end 64 of tongue 21a serves as a stop member for limiting the forward movement of tongue 21a by engaging with the stationary prong of the forcepslike clamp of instrument 7 while the latter is still within frame 6. Tongue 21a also has a pair of flat bars 67 and 68 rigidly secured thereto which project beyond tongue 21a and thus form a fork. When applicator plate 42 which is held on the forcepslike prongs of instrument 7 is ejected from the main thread-supporting plate 37, it will be stripped off these prongs by fork 63, 67 when instrument 7 is being withdrawn in the upward direction from frame 6.

By comparison of the above description and drawings of the present invention with my copending application for the surgical instrument as previously referred to, it will be seen that these instruments are substantially the same in both applications, except for the provision of the projection on instrument 7 of the present case.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. Dispensing apparatus for dispensing to a surgical tying instrument thread-supporting members holding a piece of surgical thread in prelooped condition, the apparatus comprising, in combination, a magazine for storing superimposed thread-supporting members; a frame member transversely spaced from said magazine and adapted to receive said instrument; feeding means movable between a retracted position for receiving a thread supporting member from said magazine and an advanced position for holding the respective thread-supporting member in said frame member for pick-up of said piece of thread by said instrument, said feeding means including a resiliently yieldable member movable in a direction transverse to the feeding direction and adapted to support a thread-supporting member so that said yieldable member yields with said thread-supporting member when a thread is picked up by the instrument moving in said transverse direction into said frame member; and actuating means for moving said feeding means between said positions and adapted to be engaged and operated by the instrument during movement of the same toward and away from said frame member; and separating means located adjacent said frame member and adapted to engage and hold a thread-supporting member held on said yieldable member when said yieldable member moves out of its normal position and away from said frame member under the action of the instrument in said advanced position of said feeding means so that upon movement of said feeding means to said retracted position said yieldable member returns to its normal position without the respective thread-supporting member which is retained by said separating means.

2. Dispensing apparatus for dispensing to a surgical tying instrument thread-supporting members holding a piece of surgical thread in prelooped condition, the apparatus comprising, in combination, a magazine for storing superimposed thread-supporting members; a frame member transversely spaced from said magazine and adapted to receive said instrument; feeding means including a slide member movable between a retracted position for receiving a thread-supporting member from said magazine and an advanced position for holding the respective thread-supporting member in said frame member for pick-up of said piece of thread by said instrument, said slide member including a resiliently yieldable member movable in a direction transverse to the feeding direction and adapted to support a thread-supporting member so that said yieldable member yields with said threadsupporting member when a thread is picked up by the instrument moving in said transverse direction into said frame member; and actuating means for moving said slide member between said positions and adapted to be engaged and operated by the instrument during movement of the same toward and away from said frame member, said actuating means including a linkage connected to said slide member and including an engaging member movable toward and away from said frame member and adapted to be engaged by said instrument during movement of the same relative to said frame member so that a thread-supporting member is automatically fed to said frame member when the instrument is moved away from said frame member; and separating means located adjacent said frame member and adapted to engage and hold a thread-supporting member held on said yieldable member when said yieldable member moves out of its normal position and away from said frame member under the action of the instrument in said advanced position of said slide member so that upon movement of said feeding means to said retracted position said yieldable member returns to its normal position without the respective thread-supporting member which is retained by said separating means.

3. Dispensing apparatus for dispensing to a surgical tying instrument thread-supporting members holding a piece of surgical thread in prelooped condition, the apparatus comprising, in combination, a magazine for storing superimposed thread-supporting members; a frame member transversely spaced from said magazine and adapted to receive said instrument; feeding means movable between a retracted position for receiving a threadsupporting member from said magazine and an advanced position for holding the respective thread-supporting member in said frame member for pick-up of said piece of thread by said instrument, said feeding means including a resiliently yieldable member movable in a direction transverse to the feeding direction and adapted to support a thread-supporting member so that said yieldable member yields with said thread-supporting member when a thread is picked up by the instrument moving in said transverse direction into said frame member; and actuating means for moving said feeding means between said positions and adapted to be engaged and operated by the instrument during movement of the same toward and away from said frame member, said actuating means including means urging said feeding means to said advanced position, and an engaging member movable toward and away from said frame member and adapted to be engaged and operated by said instrument for moving said feeding means to said retracted position when said engaging member moves toward said frame member during movement of the instrument toward said frame member so that a threadsupporting member is automatically fed to said frame member when the instrument is moved away from said frame member; and separating means lcated adjacent said frame member and adapted to engage and hold a thread-supporting member held on said yieldable member when said yieldable member moves out of its normal position and away from said frame member under the action of the instrument in said advanced position of said feeding means so that upon movement of said feeding means to said retracted position said yieldable member returns to its normal position without the respective thread-supporting member which is retained by said separating means.

4. A dispensing apparatus adapted to be used with a surgical instrument for tying off open blood vessels and the like comprising, in combination, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of thread supporting members respectively holding a piece of surgical thread in prelooped condition, said magazine including a substantially vertical chute for holding said thread supporting members superimposed upon each other and a frame member spaced from said chute and adapted to receive said instrument; a receiving member; feeding means for automatically feeding one of said thread supporting members after the other from said chute to said receiving member and for automatically feeding said thread supporting members on said receiving member successively to a pickup position when the previous thread supporting member has been picked up by said instrument from said position, said feeding member comprising a slide member at the open lower end of the chute and carrying said receiving member thereon for receiving the lowest thread supporting member from said chute and for moving the same in a substantially horizontal direction to an advanced position in said frame member from which said thread supporting member may be picked up by said instrument, a pair of gripping members carried by said slide member movable relative to each other in response to movement of said slide member and adapted to automatically grip one of said thread supporting members supplied from said chute, and actuating means for actuating said slide member to carry out said feeding movement in response to movement of said instrument relative to said frame member.

5. A dispensing apparatus adapted to be used with a surgical instrument for tying off open blood vessels and the like comprising, in combination, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of thread supporting members respectively holding a piece of surgical thread in prelooped condition, said magazine including a substantially vertical chute for holding said thread supporting members superimposed upon each other and a frame member spaced from said chute and adapted to receive said instrument; feeding means for automatically feeding one of said thread supporting members after the other from said chute to a pickup position when the previous thread supporting member has been picked up by said instrument from said position, said feeding member comprising a main slide member, an auxiliary slide member mounted on said main slide member movable relative thereto, a first gripping member on said main slide member, a second gripping member mounted on said auxiliary slide member and adapted to cooperate with said first gripping member to carry out a gripping movement underneath said chute for gripping one of said thread supporting members supplied from said chute, means for producing a movement of said slide members relative to each other and including resilient means connecting said slide members, and actuating means for actuating said main slide member to carry out said feeding movement in response to movement of said instrument relative to said frame member.

6. A dispensing apparatus adapted to be used with a surgical instrument for tying ioff open blood vessels and the like comprising, in combination, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of thread supporting members respeotively holding a piece of surgical thread in prelooped condition, said magazine including a substantially vertical chute for holding said thread supporting members super imposed upon each other and a frame member spaced from said chute and adapted to receive said instrument, said chute having forwardly projecting side walls each formed with a slot therein; a receiving member; feeding means for automatically feeding one of said thread supporting members after the other from said chute to said receiving member and for automatically feeding said thread supporting members on said receiving member successively to a pickup position when the previous thread supporting member has been picked up by said instrument from said position, said feeding member comprising a slide member at the open lower end of the chute and carrying said receiving member thereon for receiving the lowest thread supporting member from said chute and for moving the same in a substantially horizontal direction to an advanced position in said frame member from which said thread supporting member may be picked up by said instrument, and actuating means for actuating said slide member to carry out said feeding movement in response to movement of said instrument relative to said frame member, said actuating means comprising a pair of arms pivo-tally mounted at one of the ends on the opposite sides of slide member and extending obliquely upwardly therefrom along said chute, a pin connecting the other ends of said arms with each other and slidably arranged within said slots of said chute, and resilient means tending to maintain said pin and arms in an upper position so that when said pin is depressed against the action of said resilient means by the insertion of said instrument into said frame and the subsequent operation thereof, said arms will shift said slide member from its normal position underneath said instrument back to a position to receive the next thread supporting member from said chute.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein at least a part of said auxiliary slide member including the gripping member thereon, apart from being moveable in a substantially horizontal direction together with, as well as relative to, said main slide member, is also moveable in a vertical direction relative to said first gripping member so as to be yieldable in the downward direction relative to said first gripping member to permit a thread supporting member to be released from said gripping members.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said auxiliary slide member is a leaf spring mounted at one end thereof on said main slide member and having a free other end carrying said second gripping member.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said auxiliary slide member comprises one part mounted at one end thereof on said main slide member, and a second part pivotally mounted on the other end of said first part and adapted to be pivoted by said instrument to a discharge position from its normal horizontal position,

9 resilient means for urging said second part into its normal position, and means for engaging, and for separating said thread-supporting member from said auxiliary slide member in said discharge position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,252,437 McLaughlin Aug. 12, 1941 Wilckens et a1. Oct. 6, 1942 Miller June 6, 1948 Calicchio Sept. 16, 1952 Stabile Sept. 1, 1953 Erdrnann Feb. 21, 1956 Neumair Mar. 19, 1957 

